EXCLUSIVE: Green Inferno, the Eli Roth-directed film about student activists who travel from Gotham to save the Amazon rainforest only to be pursued by a cannibal tribe, has been taken off Open Road’s release calendar. The film was scheduled for wide release on September 5. I’m told this happened because financier Worldview Entertainment is balking at ex-CEO Christopher Woodrow’s commitment to provide the P&A.

Since this is Roth’s first directorial outing in six years and his budget conscious fright fare almost always scares up profits, this is almost as shocking as the subject matter and also a tasty bit of dish. I’ve confirmed from Open Road that the release date is scratched, though the distributor won’t comment further, including whether there will be a later release date or if this goes straight to video. Worldview has been going through a restructure since the abrupt and largely unexplained exit of CEO Woodrow, which Deadline revealed last June.

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Do you realize how absolutely stupid you've made yourself sound with what you said!? The re-shooting of...

George

6 months

It's meant to be a new twist on (but in the same style as) the old jungle...

George

6 months

Not trying to be argumentative, just splitting hairs, but.... Ti West, is actually a pretty great director....

The company, now run by Molly Conners, put a freeze on all of Woodrow’s extravagant commitments and is scrutinizing every deal that was made. Green Inferno has been caught in that snare and is not alone; there is reportedly a lawsuit by Hoyt David Morgan, who claimed he staked $3.7 million in Worldview in exchange for exec producer credit on the Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu-directed Birdman, only to be stiffed on the money and the credit.

Worldview is still squarely in operation, I’m told, with Conners determined to responsibly put the pieces back together. She will be in Venice to premiere Worldview pics Birdman and Manglehorn. It looks from here like the scrapping of Green Inferno from Open Road’s fall schedule has little to do with the quality of the film Roth directed, co-wrote and produced. Green Inferno was acquired by Open Road after it premiered in the Midnight Madness program at 2013 Toronto City to raucous response. It got a 77% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a stat that makes it seem like if you hunger for one incredibly violent nightmarish Amazon cannibal film this year, Green Inferno might be just for you. It got a similar reaction last week at the Fantasia festival.

Roth is currently editing his latest film, the Keanu Reeves-starrer Knock Knock, and he’s collaborating on a script with David O Russell and is producing the TV series South Of Hell with Jason Blum as his Netflix series Hemlock Grove just got a second season. He wouldn’t comment here, but he clearly likes his cannibal extravaganza, recently producing and releasing a mobile game for the movie.

I’m told that Worldview doesn’t intend to leave Roth high and dry, and behind the scenes talks are going on to try and figure this out. If that doesn’t rescue the wide release of this film, I imagine that someone will provide the P&A spend (it’s the first money to get refunded), or else another distributor will show an appetite and step to the plate for Roth’s cannibal fare. Are there any culinary puns I’ve missed?

Um, you do realize that Hemlock Grove has already steamed its second season.

Nick B • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Thanks for your opinion. Good thing nobody knows who the fuck you are or cares, so the rest of us can enjoy the film. Eli Roth’s movies are largely blockbusters, only suffering from later sequels that not-so-good directors have ruined (Hostel 3, Cabin Fever 2 and 3, etc.)

George • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Not trying to be argumentative, just splitting hairs, but…. Ti West, is actually a pretty great director. He didn’t ruin Cabin Fever 2, the studio that funded the film took over the editing and gave him no say over the final cut.

He hates the way the film came out, and wants his name taken off of it.

Also (just my opinion), but Cabin Fever 2 is a fun flick, if you’re in the mood for pointless gore (which I always am).

Anonymous • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Do you realize how absolutely stupid you’ve made yourself sound with what you said!? The re-shooting of Hemlock Grove was the studios mistake.. NOT Eli’s. They moved the series to Canada and things turned out perfect. Had nothing to do with the show or its premises, it was zoning. If you knew the first thing about horror films, you’d know how epic his films are. Eli’s following is massive and this movie would make a ton of money if and when it’s released. I guess ignorance is bliss for some, or maybe you are the person who has nightmares for weeks after watching his movies cause you’re a wimp. Don’t hate on amazing directing and producing abilities.

Eddie • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

^^Bullshit. I saw the movie at TIFF last year and it was arguably his best film.

J Kerr • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Bummer! I was so looking forward to an Eli Roth cannibal film. With the world in chaos, why are we being deprived of this majestic, magical unguent guaranteed to uplift us all?

Samantha • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Oh, thank God. For a minute there I thought we were going to be treated to an original, scary, and well-written horror film. I mean, who needs that when we have another cash grab Scream sequel on the way?

Anonymous • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

An original film about white folks getting eaten by cannibals in the Amazon? Clearly we have a different concept of what constitutes ‘original’.

Ryan S • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Original? See more movies.

Roth doesn’t do original. He does tributes.

Indy Financer • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Bodes ill for Worldview’s staying power … fluffy pronouncements aside

TS • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Saw it and it was garbage. No great loss.

TerryO • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

This makes no sense. Somebody needs to step in. Either Worldview’s money left with Woodrow or this new CEO gal is dropping the ball. Why would they “balk” at the P&A? This article is going in two different directions.

Horriblefilm • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Another Exclusive Media flim that end up in mess. Crap Execs, WV was in the middle and give the money. Turn out to be a horrible, ridiculous horror. Cheaply done. Canadians always have a raucous response, no matter what they screen at TIfF, especially at midnight. The guy next to me was so scared that fall asleep. Straight to Netflix. Risky P&A on this one. Waste of money. Fortunately they are all out of business. Green inferno.

james • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

they werent getting the wide offers they wanted hence the commitment by the financier. same thing likely for wingard’s new one which is much better. that said, exclusive handled foreign so im not sure how they can be at fault for this.

Anonymous • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Great news! No one needs to see this suffering torture porn shit.

Anonymous • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

He should just put up a kickstarter like his pal Harry Knowless (One year later and still no web series). Roth donated money to that kickstarter. You guys did a story on that last year. Time for a follow up story.

Smokey • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

The real winner from this scenario? The movie goers who won’t be sold another leering and sadistic exercise in punishment.

Komy • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Call Cassian Elwes – kidding

william • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

sounds like a remake of Cannibal Holocaust.

George • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

It’s meant to be a new twist on (but in the same style as) the old jungle cannibal tribe flicks (Cannibal Ferox, Cannibal Holocaust, Mountain of the Cannibal God, etc.)

Benji The Wonder Dog • on Aug 7, 2014 5:29 pm

Buyer’s remorse. The guy def has an eye — just keep him away from the script.